Campbellsville wins first NWCA National Dual title in WCWA division with 24-19 win over McKendree

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Campbellsville University, a program that has quickly risen to prominence over the last few years, picked up its first NWCA National Dual title in the WCWA division, defeating No. 2 seeded McKendree in the championship dual on Friday afternoon in Fort Wayne, Ind.

“We knew it was going to be a heck of a battle to win the NWCA National Duals,” Campbellsville head coach Lee Miracle said. “We had to face two very good teams on our side of the bracket, Emmanuel in the semis and McKendree in the finals. Both teams are loaded with talent and well coached. My team did an exceptional job of fighting for what they wanted. We were really tested. They could have easily got down on themselves and their teammates in both of those duals. They just kept grinding and found a way to get it done.”

Campbellsville, which entered the tournament as the No. 1 seed, advanced to the finals on Friday morning after picking up a 26-18 semifinal win over Emmanuel.

Facing McKendree in the finals, Campbellsville fell behind quickly, losing the first five bouts.

Of note for McKendree, No. 7 Vanessa Ramirez upset freshman and No. 2 McKayla Campbell with a first-period fall in 2:38 at 109 pounds.

In a battle of All-Americans at 116 pounds, Tayler Resuriz, representing the Bearcats, edged out Campbellsville’s Charlotte Fowler, 2-1.

Other McKendree wrestlers recording wins were Genae Sampract at 101 pounds, Gabrielle Weyhrich at 123 pounds and 2017 WCWA runner-up Megan Black at 130 pounds.

Halfway through the dual, McKendree led 14-4 with Campbellsville putting up points in four of the first five bouts.

Starting at 136 pounds, Campbellsville rattled off five-consecutive wins, which ultimately spurred them to a team victory.

All-American and 2017 U.S. Senior National Team member Koral Sugiyama stuck 2016 Junior World Team member and McKendree freshman Brenda Reyna in 2:35 at 136 pounds.

Bumping up to 143 pounds for the finals, Grace Bullen, a freshman for Campbellsville and Junior World bronze medalist for Norway, made her collegiate debut this week, recording falls in all three of her matches.

In the championship dual, she kept it rolling with a pin in 2:06 over 2016 Junior World bronze medalist and two-time WCWA All-American Alexis Porter of McKendree.

Women’s freestyle standout Kayla Miracle, who usually competes at 136 pounds, gave up 19 pounds in the semis and finals, wrestling at 155 pounds. The weight was no issue for Miracle as she put up two tech falls on the day, including a 10-0 victory over Andrea Sennett in the finals.

At 170 pounds, All-American Mariah Harris of Campbellsville held off two-time All-American and 2015 WCWA runner-up Brandy Lowe in a 9-9 battle. The win at 170 pounds set up for an interesting dual finale.

With only a two-point lead heading into the final match, Campbellsville’s Kaitlyn Hill finished it off for the Tigers in dramatic fashion with a 13-13 win on criteria over Destane Garrick at 191 pounds.

The win sealed a 24-19 dual win for Campbellsville.

Bullen, Miracle, Harris and Hill all went undefeated at the event, each going 3-0.

“This team is special,” Miracle said. “You can tell that they love each other and trust each other.  It’s pretty cool see all of their hard work pay off. I’m extremely proud of them!”

For third place, Emmanuel defeated Wayland Baptist, 23-21. Four-time NWCA National Duals champion King University bested Life University, 31-15, for fifth, and Oklahoma City took seventh, defeating Grays Harbor, 26-20.

NWCA NATIONAL DUALS

at Fort Wayne, Ind., Jan. 4-5

First place
No. 1 Campbellsville 24, No. 2 McKendree 19
101      Genae Sampract (McKendree) dec. Mckenzie Bacich (Campbellsville) 10-6          
109      Vanessa Ramirez (McKendree) fall McKayla Campbell (Campbellsville) 2:38
116      Tayler Resuriz (McKendree) dec. Charlotte Fowler (Campbellsville) 2-1    
123      Gabrielle Weyhrich (McKendree) dec. Steffanie Hampton (Campbellsville) 10-5
130      Megan Black (McKendree) dec. Shelby Hall (Campbellsville) 9-4   
136      Koral Sugiyama (Campbellsville) fall Brenda Reyna (McKendree) 2:35      
143      Grace Bullen (Campbellsville) fall Alexis Porter (McKendree) 2:06 
155      Kayla Miracle (Campbellsville) TF Andrea Sennett (McKendree) 10-0        
170      Mariah Harris (Campbellsville) dec. Brandy Lowe (McKendree) 9-9           
191      Kaitlyn Hill (Campbellsville) dec. Destane Garrick (McKendree) 13-13

Third place
Emmanuel 23, Wayland Baptist 21
101      Iesha Washington (Emmanuel College) dec. Asia Ray (Wayland Baptist) 6-4
109      Maria Vidales (Emmanuel College) TF Evelynn Simmons (Wayland Baptist) 12-0  
116      Cody Pfau (Emmanuel College) fall Rhonda Johnson (Wayland Baptist) 4:25
123      Gabriela Ramos-Diaz (Wayland Baptist) TF Victoria Gutierez (Emmanuel College) 12-2
130      Abigail Nette (Emmanuel College) TF Rebekah Cordova (Wayland Baptist) 10-0   
136      Brittany Bates (Wayland Baptist) dec. Astrid Silva (Emmanuel College) 4-2           
143      Kayla Marano (Emmanuel College) TF Marina Bricen (Wayland Baptist) 10-0
155      Skylar Brock (Wayland Baptist) fall Felicity Bryant (Emmanuel College) 3:08        
170      Brittany Marshall (Wayland Baptist) win by forfeit
191      Alexis Tarango (Wayland Baptist) dec. Briana Jordan (Emmanuel College) 5-2

Fifth place
King 31, Life 15
101      Marina Doi (King University) TF Brigette Ariosa (Life University) 11-0
109      Marina Doi (King University) TF Alanda Nguyen (Life University) 10-0        
116      Aleeah Gould (King University) fall Tyesha Topps (Life University) 2:03      
123      Jennifer Juarez (Life University) fall Briana Kellin (King University) 3:44    
130      Allison Petix (King University) fall Aysia Cortez (Life University) 2:03          
136      Nicole Joseph (King University) fall Sophie Gorman (Life University) 0:31  
143      Brooke Pagan (Life University) dec. Leilani Vital (King University) 6-2        
155      Jessi Kee (King University) TF Zoe Wight (Life University) 14-2        
170      Jordan Nelson (Life University) fall Keely Sage (King University) 1:41         
191      Victoria Espinoza (King University) dec. Jaclyn Fields (Life University) 1-1

Seventh place
Oklahoma City 26, Grays Harbor 20
101      Nina Pham (Grays Harbor College) win by forfeit
109      Kateri Rowell (Grays Harbor College) TF Raven Guidry (Oklahoma City) 10-0
116      Lei Nacapuy (Oklahoma City) fall Sophia Hernandez (Grays Harbor College) 1:48 
123      Daniela Flores (Oklahoma City) TF Alexis Morfin (Grays Harbor College) 10-0      
130      Monica Mendoza (Oklahoma City) fall Brittany Wynn (Grays Harbor College) 2:41          
136      Desiree Zavala (Grays Harbor College) win by forfeit
143      Erin Redford (Oklahoma City) TF Casandra Parra (Grays Harbor College) 12-1     
155      Yvonne Galindo (Oklahoma City) TF Veronica Coppolino (Grays Harbor College) 10-0
170      Rachel Watters (Oklahoma City) TF Kacie Moorehouse (Grays Harbor College) 10-0
191      Paige Baynes (Grays Harbor College) win by forfeit